The Driving Test, What is it?

The Driving Test

To obtain a driving licence you first need to pass your driving test

In this section, you will find out how to apply for it, where to take it, and how to prepare for it to ensure you’ve given yourself the best chance of success.

Cost

From 1st February 2011 the driving test fees are:

A, A2, A1, B, BE, AM,W €85

All other categories €120

CPC Driving Test (Bus and Truck Category) €152

You can book and pay for your driving test online. You will need a credit card to do this (Visa or Mastercard) or a debit card (Laser) plus a valid e-mail address.

Alternatively, you can download a driving test booking form here, or obtain a copy from any driving test centre, NDLS office (National Driving Licence Service) or Library. Payment should be made by cheque or postal money order. These should be crossed and made payable to the Road Safety Authority. The correct fee must accompany your completed driving test booking form. Fees are non-transferable.

If, after making a booking for a driving test, you do not wish to proceed with the application, you may apply within 14 days of payment for a refund of your test fee (provided you are not scheduled for an appointment within that time).

Driving test application requirements

You can apply for a driving test either online or by post. Please note you cannot apply for your driving test by phone.
What must I do?

To do the test, you must hold a valid learner permit for at least six months on the day of the test for cars, motorcycles and works vehicles(in the case of a first time learner permit holders, the code 991 will be printed under the restrictions/information section on your learner permit opposite the vehicle category) . You must provide a suitable vehicle to sit your driving test. Mandatory lessons may apply to you, see information on Initial Basic Training(IBT) for Motorcycles and Esssential Driver Training(EDT) for car drivers.

Preparing for your driving test

Study the Rules of the Road booklet

Study the Preparing for your test booklet

Use the services of an approved driving instructor (ADI)

Practice driving on all types of road (except motorways) and in all types of traffic situations, accompanied by your ADI or sponsor. This should include driving at night.

Study the “Learning to Drive” suite of manuals for car, bike, bus and truck, available at book shops nationwide.

There are also a suite of learning to drive videos available here

Study the Checklist for your driving test booklet

Don’t:

Unnecessarily obstruct traffic or annoy other road users

Drive unaccompanied at any time.

Your appointment

When you register with MyRoadSafety.ie you can set your driving goal. If no suitable test dates are available you will be presented with a facility to be placed on a waiting list. When new driving test slots become available you will be contacted to advise you of this and invite you to log onto MyRoadSafety.ie to make your driving test booking. You can book and pay for a driving test at a date, time and venue of your choosing. When you have made your driving test booking a letter or email confirming your booking will be sent to you. If your preferred method of communication is post, the letter confirming your test booking will be accompanied by the Checklist for your driving test booklet.

Testing is conducted out of many test centres throughout the country. Where possible, your test will be arranged for the centre you nominate on your driving test booking form.

If you would like your driving test to be conducted through Irish please indicate this when you book online. If you are booking your test by post, complete the Irish language version of the driving test booking form, indicating on the form that you wish to have your test conducted through Irish

Taking the test

While you may be daunted at the thoughts of undergoing a driving test, preparation in advance with an approved driving instructor (ADI) will help maximise your chances of passing your test.

To pass the driving test you will need to:

Maintain proper control over the vehicle at all times

Show anticipation and awareness

Take proper precautions when moving off, stopping, overtaking, changing direction and meeting other traffic

Make safe and reasonable progress when driving and when meeting and crossing the path of other vehicles

Day of the test

You should be present at the test centre before the appointed time of your test. At the time of your appointment the driver tester will contact you on the mobile phone number you provided when you booked your driving test. Please make sure your phone settings allow calls from a private number. You will be asked by the Tester if you are an essential worker. If you are not an essential worker your test will not go ahead. You can get more information on what happens on the day of your test here.

You should be present at the test centre before the appointed time of your test. If you are late, the test cannot be conducted and your fee will be forfeit.

The driver tester will check your learner permit to establish that it is:

Yours and not someone else’s

Current

For the correct category of vehicle.

If you are sitting a motorcycle test, you will need to bring your Vehicle Registration Certificate which confirms details regarding the motorcycle you present to test with (i.e. power output in KW, engine cc, power to weight ratio, make, model, and registration number). If your motorcycle is restricted in power, you will need to bring the certificate which provides proof of compliance of restriction. This must be a certificate on headed paper from an official source.

If you are sitting a test in category C, you will need to bring the vehicle certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle you present with for the test. You need to ensure your vehicle meets the minimum “real total mass” requirements set out in your appointment letter. Visit the Real Total Mass section of our website to ensure you are prepared for the vehicle category you are sitting your test in.

If you are sitting a test in category CE, you need to bring with you to the test a weight declaration form completed from a weigh bridge to verify the weight of the combination, to present to the driver tester on the day of the driving test. This weight declaration must show the following details:

Registration number of the tractor unit/drawing vehicle

The Trailer mark (Registration number of the trailer)

The weigh bridge docket must be dated and has a validity period of 12 months from date of issue.

The unladen weight of the combination.

You will be asked to read and sign a statement confirming that:

The vehicle insurance cover is in place and adequate

Your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.

You can download the Checklist for your Driving Test(PDF) for more information) on all the above requirements.

What if I cannot make it to the test centre due to bad weather or road conditions

In most cases tests will be cancelled and this information will be posted on our website, as soon as updates become available. Click here for updates. In circumstances where it is deemed unsafe to conduct driving tests in a number of test centres, we will immediately issue a text/email to all affected customers although we appreciate that in some cases it may be too late to prevent an unnecessary journey.

In some cases there may be localised dangerous road conditions caused by ice, frost, snow, floods etc.; in such cases the advice is always the same - do not travel if you feel it is unsafe to do so. In such circumstances please advise us that you are cancelling your test via the test cancellation webform . Your test will be cancelled and another test arranged for you free of charge.

The Test

The driving test for cars takes approximately 65 minutes and includes:

Questions on the Rules of the Road (including identifying road signs)

Demonstrating hand signals

Reversing round a corner

Turnabout manoeuvre

A hill start

Driving approximately five miles in a variety of road and traffic conditions

Your driving will be assessed in the following situations:

Moving off

Driving in traffic

Stopping - Reversing around a corner

Turning about, to face in the opposite direction

Starting on a hill

Aspects of your driving assessed will include:

Road positioning

Overtaking and passing

Anticipation and observation

Use of mirrors and signals

Progress Speed

Compliance with traffic lights, road signs and markings

Use of the vehicle controls (accelerator, clutch, gears, brakes and steering)

Use of secondary controls such as wipers, de-misters, etc
Before applying for your driving test online:

Verify that you are eligible to sit your test—6 month rule.

Make sure you have taken the mandatory lessons for certain motorcyclists (IBT) or car drivers (EDT).
Know your current, valid driver number. (This is the number quoted opposite 4(d) on your learner permit
Know your PPS number—this can be found on tax documents or your pay slip and it is often on correspondence from a social welfare or tax office. What must I do?

Testing is conducted out of many test centres throughout the country. Where possible, your test will be arranged for the centre you nominate on your driving test booking form.

Why People Fail

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Pass The Test

How to pass your driving test

    *Study the Rules of the Road booklet
    *Study the Preparing for your test booklet
    *Use the services of an approved driving instructor (ADI)
    *Practice driving on all types of road and in all types of traffic situations, including driving at night
    *Build up your driving experience and confidence before applying for your test
    *Study the “Learning to Drive” suite of manuals for car, bike, bus and truck, available at book shops nationwide
    *Review the top tips below on how to pass your test from Pat Travers, Chief State Tester